Missourians are urged to participate in this year’s Severe Weather Awareness Week coming up March 6 -10, and the statewide tornado drill on Tues., March 7, at 10 a.m., to be prepared for the deadly hazards posed by tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, flooding and lightning.

From the State of Missouri Emergency Management Agency, Department of Public Safety news release.

In just one weekend last month, 19 people were killed by tornadoes in the southeastern U.S., more than that were killed by tornadoes in the entire U.S. during all of 2016. It’s a reminder of just how deadly severe weather can be, and why the National Weather Service, the State Emergency Management Agency and local emergency managers are urging Missourians to participate in Missouri Severe Weather Awareness Week, March 6-10. Missouri’s annual Statewide Tornado Drill will be held on Tuesday, March 7 at 10 a.m.

“Tornadoes, severe storms and flooding are all deadly threats that put lives at risk in Missouri,” State Emergency Management Agency Director Ernie Rhodes said. “But if we learn about the risks and how to protect ourselves and our families, along with closely following the latest weather forecast anytime severe weather is in predicted, we can tremendously reduce the risk and save lives.”

On March 7, outdoor warning sirens and weather alert radios across the state will sound, signaling the beginning of the statewide tornado drill and indicating that Missourians should practice taking shelter. The safest shelter location is the basement or an interior room in the lowest level of a building. Other safe locations for businesses and schools include interior stairways and tornado safe rooms.

If severe weather is in the forecast for March 7, the drill will be moved to Thursday, March 9 at 10 a.m.

The National Weather Service provides safety tips and educational information about tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, flash flooding, lightning and the importance of NOAA Weather Radios on its Severe Weather Awareness Week page: http://www.weather.gov/lsx/severeweek. Each day during the week focuses on a different safety message: Monday, March 6, Preparedness Day; Tuesday, March 7, Tornado Safety Day; Wednesday, March 8, Flash Flood Safety Day; Thursday, March 9, Severe Thunderstorm Day; and Friday, March 10, Communication/NOAA Weather Radio Day.

According to the National Weather Service, Missouri experienced 18 tornadoes with no deaths and no injuries in 2016. There were two flooding deaths in the state in 2016, according to NWS. A man died in flood waters in Jefferson City on Aug. 1, 2016 and a woman died in a vehicle in flood water in Washington County near Richwoods on a county road. Nationally, more than half of all flash flooding fatalities involve a vehicle. In 2015, flooding killed 27 people in Missouri, with 11 people dying during torrential rain and flash flooding in one night alone. Twenty-three of the 27 people who died in Missouri flooding in 2015 had been in motor vehicles.

More information can be found on Missouri’s Stormaware.mo.gov website, which includes detailed videos about how to take shelter from tornadoes in specific locations, how to avoid flash flowing and useful information about tornado sirens, and weather alert radios. The videos have been viewed almost 400,000 times.

Remember:

Tornado Watch means watch the sky. A tornado may form during a thunderstorm.

Tornado Warning means seek shelter immediately.

The safest shelter location is an interior room without windows on the lowest floor.

Do not seek shelter in a cafeteria, gymnasium or other large open room because the roof might collapse.

Immediately leave a mobile home to seek shelter in a nearby building.

Overpasses are not safe. Their under-the-girder-type construction can cause a dangerous wind tunnel effect.

If you are driving, stop and take shelter in a nearby building.

If you are driving in a rural area, drive away from the tornado to the closest building. If you cannot get away, seek shelter in a roadside ditch. Protect yourself from flying debris by covering your head with your arms, a coat or a blanket. Be prepared to move quickly in case the ditch fills with water.

Never drive into standing water. It can take less than six inches of fast moving water to make a slow moving car float. Once floating, a vehicle can overturn and sink.